More details on the event coming in January!

October was a Big Month for the LEF

Thanks to our Ladue School District parents, educators and sponsors, the LEF held another successful Community Breakfast and ‘Due Run 4 Education, raising funds to support the excellence of the Ladue School District.

The 8th-Annual Community Breakfast was made possible by the generosity of its presenting sponsors: Morgan Stanley - Kurt Jaeger, Michael Karasick, Robert Millner, and the Das Family Foundation.

• Hank Kauffman was our kickoff speaker; as a beloved Ladue Horton Watkins High School teacher for more than 50 years, he had many warm Ladue memories to relate!

• Dr. Donna Jahnke, Ladue Schools Superintendent, shared the strategic vision for the district and mentioned several key initiatives, including a review of the math curriculum for the entire district and an ongoing renovation evaluation for the outdated LHWHS building.

• Marjorie Dellas gave a moving tribute to her friend and classmate Will Bushelle, who graduated from LHWHS in 1994 and went on to live an extraordinary, courageous life. Will’s impact on those who knew him was truly inspiring.

• Students told us how LEF grants enriched their educational experience, and it was wonderful to hear directly from them how your contributions to the Ladue Education Foundation make a difference in our schools each and every day.

The2nd-Annual 'Due Run was presented by Stifel and the LHWHS Class of 1994 in memory of classmate and Navy Seal Will Bushelle. A special thanks goes to the many Class of ’94 members who donated and participated.

If you would like to honor Hank Kauffman by making a donation to the LEF, please click HERE.

If you would like to make a donation to the Will Bushelle Endowment, please click HERE.

As always, the LEF encourages you to learn more, get involved and consider making a donation. Thank you for helping the Ladue Education Foundation provide extraordinary opportunities for the students of our district!

Teacher Profile: Vincent Flewellen

Meet Vincent, a bright and talented man with over 15 years of experience as an educator, program developer, and local community leader. We have the privilege of calling him our sixth-grade Advanced Literature and seventh- and eighth-grade Communication Arts and Multicultural Studies teacher at the Ladue Middle School. Put in Vincent’s own words, this school year is his second tour of duty. He has been in the district in this position since the 2013-2014 school year.

This is not Vincent’s first experience in the Ladue School District. In the late 90s, Vincent graduated from Maryville University with a degree in education and became a sixth-grade Social Studies teacher at what was then called Ladue Junior High. He went on work at MICDS, helping cultivate the sixth-grade Social Studies curriculum and, in the process, created a World Cultures class.

From there, Vincent attended the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University and received his Masters in Social Work in 2005. He proceeded to do consulting work for Forsyth School and worked with grade level teachers to reorganize the kindergarten through sixth-grade social studies curriculum, with the focus of paying close attention to issues of diversity and inclusion. He helped the school to realign those elements to fit more naturally into the curriculum.

Next, he was involved in a political campaign as the Statewide Speakers Bureau coordinator. He moved on to the position of Managing Director of Programs at Teach for America St. Louis, spent time as the Director of Development for Neighborhood Houses and was the Center Director for University Children’s Center.

When asked why he returned to teaching after such an extensive career in program management, he talked about the tragedy of having his mother and grandmother die in close succession. Before his mother died in July 2012, she told him to return to his passion of teaching, encouraged him to find happiness and to be open to love, to become more responsible, and to take care of his health. Shortly after, Vincent ran into a colleague who had worked with the Ladue School District previously and still had a few connections. Vincent went through interviews, and a position seemingly opened up at the last minute.

Issues of social justice really matter to Vincent, and that is very apparent in the topics he presents in his class, such as helping students create a desire to truly care about all members of our society. He has been able to incorporate very tangible teaching moments as the events in Ferguson and nationwide have unfolded. Vincent and his class have been highlighted in many local and national publications in the recent months, including St. Louis Public Radio and National Public Radio. He was also asked by a few parents at LMS to facilitate discussions in their homes on the topic of race out of the. These discussions resulted in the formation of Ladue Citizens Advocating Racial Equality (Ladue CAREs). They now hold monthly meetings to discuss the issues of race/racism and how they play out in the Ladue education system.

When asked what excites Vincent about teaching, he talks about a student he has mentored for years who is now able to recognize issues of injustice and call those things out in his own life and community. If that is what each student could take from his class, he feels he has done his job.

Vincent graduated from Clayton High School and enjoys running, bike riding, and reconnecting with friends. He is a member of the St. Johns United Church of Christ and is a self-described foodie; he loves trying out new restaurants. In addition to teaching at LMS, Vincent is an adjunct professor at the Brown School of Social Work and teaches a Social Justice and Human Diversity course.

We are truly lucky to have such a dynamic talent in our school district.

There's Never Been a Better Time to Donate

A strong school district is the backbone of a strong community.

The Ladue Education Foundation is an organization committed to advancing the excellence of the Ladue School District by raising and facilitating donations to fund world-class learning opportunities and instructional resources for Ladue School District students.

The LEF — with support from parents, alumni, corporations and the surrounding community — bridges the gap between public funding and the curriculum innovations of teachers and staff to ensure Ladue Schools students have the tools they need to remain competitive.

Your gift to the Ladue Education Foundation provides teachers, and the district as a whole, an opportunity to implement creative ideas and expand students’ learning without the use of tax dollars.

Your donation will go even farther if you or your spouse works for a company that matches employee gifts!

Make your gift even more meaningful!

Alumni gifts — show your school and class spirit.

Memorial gifts — A donation in recognition or memory of an individual who made an impact on your life or the life of your child — say "Thank You" to a teacher, coach, or administrator, or honor an alumnus, a retired teacher, or a volunteer who has made a difference in the community.

Donate to our general fund, to our endowment, or to help support major projects currently sponsored by the LEF.

WAYS TO DONATE

Online Donations: You can make an online donation using your credit card. Your payment will be made through our secure online system.

Mail-in Form: If you prefer to mail a donation to the LEF, please send a check or credit card information along with the donation form.

Stock Donations: The LEF appreciates donations of stock, and these delivery instructions make it easy.

Payroll Deduction: Ladue School District staff members may donate via payroll deduction.

"Advancing the excellence of the Ladue School District"

Do You Have a Creative Idea for an LEF Fundraiser?

Inspired by the huge success of Artistic Soup Photography's family photo fundraiser, the LEF is seeking innovative ways to raise money for Ladue education.

If you're a business owner or have a favorite local store or service you'd recommend, we'll help your fundraising idea become a reality!

A very special thanks to Angela Lamb for all her hard work and generosity.

Amazon Smile DonatesShop at Amazon?
Just log in at www.smile.amazon.com and choose the Ladue Education Foundation as your charity, and a portion of your purchase will go to the LEF! For more information see smile.amazon.com/about and learn how easy it is to make a contribution to the great educational opportunities that our kids get in the Ladue School District.

The Ladue Education Foundation has the power to unite our community in support of building an extraordinary, world-class public education system right here at home. The Ladue School District has been recognized nationally for its commitment to excellence, but tax dollars alone are not enough to keep the district on the leading edge of educational opportunities for the thousands of students in our region.

With the support of the community through the Ladue Education Foundation, our students can be fully prepared to become leaders locally and nationally in ways that can change the world.

The Ladue Education Foundation advances the excellence of the Ladue School District by expanding opportunities for extraordinary student success.

The Foundation provides for world-class teaching and learning across all disciplines and seeks to do the following:

To foster bold innovative thinking and new ideas.

To increase opportunities for experiential learning and critical thinking.

To develop access to tools, resources, and business and community partnerships for real life experiences.

To create a passion for life-long learning.

To advance innovative teaching and best practices.

The Ladue Education Foundation (LEF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) foundation formed in 2006 that enables individuals and organizations to support extraordinary student achievement at all levels in Ladue Schools through tax-deductible donations.